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Rangasamy to inaugurate first truck terminal tomorrow

Staff Reporter

Built at a cost of Rs.3 crore, it will reduce traffic congestion

— Photo: T. Singaravelou

FIRST ONE: The new truck terminal that will be inaugurated on Monday at Mettupalayam in Puducherry.

PUDUCHERRY: The first truck terminal in the Union Territory, a project that was hanging for about 10 years, will be inaugurated on Monday at Mettupalayam, a few kilometres from the town.

The terminal, spread over 15.2 hectares, can accommodate about 600 lorries at any point of time. The sprawling terminal built at a cost of about Rs.3 crore, besides parking facility, has got a resting hall for drivers, toilets, quarters for watchman, temporary hotels and teashops.

Further amenities, including laying of cement roads, a first aid centre and construction of a compound wall would be added to the terminal very shortly, according to officials of the Oulgaret Municipality. Further expansion of the terminal would be taken up at a cost of Rs.2 crore, they added.

The parking fee had been fixed at Rs.25 for 24 hours for each truck. The commissioning of the terminal will considerably reduce traffic congestion, as trucks, including sand-laden lorries, would not be allowed to enter the town from 6 a.m. to 11 p. m.

The municipality had given a few days time to shop owners to make alternative arrangements before their entry into the town was prohibited. The enforcement is likely to come on July 1.

Once the decision was formally announced, the trucks would be allowed to enter the town between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. for loading and unloading on all days.

About 200 trucks carrying vegetables, fruits, groceries, liquor, flowers and other stationary items enter the town every day, leading to congestion and other problems.

With the new facility, trucks would not be allowed to even park within the town during the restricted time period. The trucks coming from Tindivanam and Cuddalore towards the town should reach the terminal via Indira Gandhi Statue and those coming through Villupuram Road should take a diversion at Moolakulam to reach the terminal, they said.

Chief Minister N. Rangasmay will formally commission the terminal on Monday.

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